Packing-case for aromatic substances



(No Model.)

C. M. STEPHENS.

\ PACKING GASE POB ABOMATIG SUBSTANCES. No. 555,027 Patented Feb. 18, 1896.

WITNESSES IWVEWTUfl ANDREW HGRANAM. Pnm'u-umawAsmN mu. D c.

UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

CHARLES M. STEPHENS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

PACKING-CASE FOR AROMATIC SUBSTANCES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 555,027, dated February 18, 1896.

Application filed February 13, 1895. Renewed November 9, 1895. Serial No. 568,501. (No model.)

To all whom zit may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES M. STEPHENS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Packing- Cases for Aromatic Substances; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to packing-cases for cigars or other objects of which it is desired to preserve the aroma and to retain in a con dition of constant freshness.

It also provides a packing-case which can be sealed in such a way that the user will understand that the contents of it have not been changed or tampered with from the time they were first placed in the case by the original packer, whose name or trade-mark may be placed on the package in such a way that any attempt to change the contents or tamper with them will indicate it. I prefer to make this packing-case in the form of a case of gelatine, so treated as to remove therefrom the smell of the oil which adheres to gelatine and which would injuriously affect the aroma of any delicate article packed in the ordinary gelatine capsule, and I also treat the capsule with a waterproofing preparation which renders it less liable to the action of the moisture in handling it, or moisture touching itfrom any other cause.

In the'drawin gs, Figure 1 indicates a packingcase closed and shown as containing within itself a cigar. Fig. 2 indicates the walls of gelatine and the outer wall or coating of waterproofing material.

A and B indicate the two halves of a gelatine capsule made in proper form to inclose the article which it is desired to pack therein.

each portion of the completed case I place a waterproofing compound which is made of any suitable material, such as shellac, wax, or paraffine, either of which will adhere to the gelatine with sufficient tenacity to effect the desired results, and will completely protect the packingcase from the effects of moisture in handling or light moisture touching the case from any other source.

Gelatine capsules are made upon pins siiitably shaped, and in making them the pins are alternately oiled and dipped in gelatine. It results from this that the interior of each portion of the capsule is coated with a thin film of oil, which has a perceptible odor, and which will inj uriously affect any delicately-scented or aromatic object placed in the capsule. I remove this thin coating of oil by treating the capsule, after ithas been made and dried,with a bath of some material which is a solvent of the oil, but is not a solvent of the gelatine of which the capsule is made. Among such solvents are alcohol and benzine. The two mentioned solvents are comparatively inexpensive and are efficient. Others would be equally efficient, but would be generally objectionable because of their greater cost.

After the article has been packed in the package, the two portions of the case may be held together by a stamp or seal, upon which may be printed the trade-mark or other designation of the original packer. This stamp might, in the case of cigars, take the form of a revenue-stamp, and should be secured to the package by a cement which will attach itself suitably to the coating which has been used. Where the outer waterproofing coating is shellac, shellac would be a suitable cement. In the drawings, 0 indicates such a seal secured over the joint of the two parts of the packing-case.

I prefer in making the package to follow the process substantially as follows: The pins are oiled, dipped in gelatine, the gelatine dried or nearly dried. The out-side of that half which has the smaller mouth is then coated with the waterproof coating, except a short ring around the mouth, and the half with the larger mouth is entirely coated, and the waterproof coating may even extend into the interior somewhat. The halves are then cleansed of oil. After the article to be incoating the exterior thereof with a waterproof- 1o ing compound, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES M. STEPHENS.

\Vitnesses CHARLES F. BURTON, F. GLoUoH. 

